foon you can do me the favour you promised of a day! Affure Mr. Knight of my hearty services, and believe me fincerely, Madam,

MADAM,

LETTER XIII.

TO THE SAME*.

Your, etc.

Southampton, Aug. 5, 1734

IF I did not know you must take it for granted that I

am always mindful of you, I fhould have been earlier in telling you such a piece of news. But the truth is, that all I ever think letters good for, is to convey to those who love one another the news of their welfare, and the knowledge that they continue in each other's memory. The first of thefe I heard by inquiries in London, which have been tranfmitted to me; and the laft, I think fo well both of you and myself, as to think unneceffary. I was very certain Mrs. Elliot's company would be an equivalent to you for all you could leave in town, and yours would be fo to her. Indeed, I had a wish to make you a fhort vifit by furprize, and fee this with my own eyes; but the account given me at Stowe (where I had but one week to ftay, and given me after I had been half

Mrs. Knight was now a fecond time a widow.

jumbled

C.

you.

jumbled to death, and juft before I was to be jumbled again in the abominable ftoney roads thereabouts) gave me a terror I could not overcome; efpecially when, chancing to see a clergyman who lives by you, and whose name I have forgot, he told me the way was farther and worse than ever my fears had imagined. I have been but in a poor ftate of health, ever fince I fet out from home; and can fcarce fay I have found reft till (where you would leaft expect it) under my Lord Peterborow. This place is beautiful beyond imagination, and as easy as it is beautiful. I wish you and Mrs. Elliot faw it. Here is a very good Catholic lady in the house, and fhe and I might pray together for One motive, which perhaps may one time or other draw you, is, that the Duchefs of Montague is within ten miles of us, at Eewley, which, I'm told, is a fine fituation on the fea, and I fhall fee it to-morrow: Lord Peterborow carries me thither. I had the fatisfaction to hear this week from Mrs. Patty Blount, that you were well. She is got into Surrey to another Papift lady, and stays fome time with her. I defign to fteer towards London before the end of this month. We expect here Mr. and Mrs. Poyntz. What can I fay to you? I with you very happy. I with Mr. Newfham all that you wish him to have, and to be. Where is he, and Mr. Mallet? When fhall you return to town? I defire you to be very kind to me, and very just to me; that is, to let me know you continue well, now, when I can no other way be fure

of

of it, than by a line hither; and to believe me fincerely ever, with all efteem, Madam,

Your, etc.

I think I need not fend Mrs. E. my services, for they will do her no good; but defire her prayers> which may do me fome.

LETTER XIV.

TO THE SAME.

DEAR MADAM,

IDLE

Sept. 1, 1734

DLE as I am, no opportunity can offer that puts me in mind of you, but I comply with that mind, which is always yours. It therefore must tell you, by this gentleman, how much I think of you; and that, if the body belonging to this mind were worth one farthing, it would follow it, and go to fee you. But those wretched infirmities, which fet it forward toward the bleffings of another life, keep it back from doing what it likes in this. I am next week going from Southampton to London, where I fhall impatiently expect you. I fancy you'll be as impatient to be in London, especially if Mrs. Elliot be not with you. I had the most entertaining letter imaginable from Mr. Mallet, from Wales. I fent it to our friend Patty;

and

and the (if the is not ftupid) will keep it, to fhew to you God fend it, and the fooner the

when we all meet. better. Believe me, without more words, yours. First, the Poft told you fo, when I had no other mes. fenger, then Harte had a line to tell you fo, and now Mr. Newfham.

MADAM,

LETTER XV.

TO THE SAME.

Southampton, Aug. 29, 1735.

I

MUST keep my old cuftom of giving my friends now and then, once or twice a year, my teftimony in writing that I love and esteem them, and that they have a place in my memory when I have been longest abfent from them. I have never any thing elfe to fay, and it is all that friendship and good-will can, or ought to say the reft is only matter of curiofity, which a newspaper can better gratify. I defire no more, Madam, from you, than to tell me juft the thing that most concerns me, and therefore is not impertinent to ask, that you are well, and in a peaceful or happy state of mind or body. I hope Mrs.

* Rev. Walter Harte. He had the Living of Gosfield.

Elliot

C.

Elliot is with you, to contribute to yours, and increase her own happiness. It will not displease you to hear, that you are remembered at this distance, and in a place where you are not much acquainted: but when you know that I am here, and that Mr. Poyntz is here, you will eafily expect it should be fo; and not wonder that your health and Mr. Newfham's are drank at Lord Peterborow's table. I am taking my leave (a melancholy office) of a friend I have long had a true regard for, and one of the most obliging turn, and the finest talents to make others easy and pleafed, of any that I ever knew. There will not be many finer gentlemen left in the world, unless Mr. Newfham, and fome other of the fecond generation, very much bent upon it to rival him.

be

Pray let Mr. Harte know I am always his fincere well-wifher. I wish I were a day or two with you, to see how happy he is, befides making myself fo. But Fate keeps me far from you: at Stowe will be my next ftage, where, if I can be foon enough, I would meet my Lady Suffolk, who is to stay there but a few days. Mrs. Blount is yet with her, and not less your fincere fervant (I can tell you, though perhaps the may not), than the finest lady in Christendom: nay, I take her to be as fincere as Lady S. herself, though fhe is now no courtier. I defire you to think of me as you used to do, which I am fenfible is as well as I deferved, and I deferve juft